Pakistani spy arrested in Panipat for leaking details of Army movement

In a significant breakthrough, the Panipat police have arrested a suspected Pakistani spy allegedly involved in passing sensitive defence information to handlers across the border, particularly during the Indian Army’s Operation Sindoor.

The accused, 24-year-old Noman Ilahi, hails from Kairana in Shamli district of Uttar Pradesh. He had been residing in Hali Colony, Panipat, for the past four months and working as a security guard at a local blanket factory. Police said he used the job as a cover while continuing to maintain contact with Pakistani handlers through WhatsApp and other social media platforms.

Acting on a tip-off, the CIA-1 unit of the district police apprehended Ilahi from Flora Chowk in Sector 29 industrial area. A mobile phone recovered from his possession revealed voice messages and communication with a man named Iqbal, believed to be his Pakistani handler.

According to sources, one of the intercepted voice messages instructed Ilahi to visit Panipat Railway Station and report on military movement, especially related to trains bound for Gurdaspur and Pathankot. Investigators also found that Ilahi was in touch with three to four more Pakistani numbers. He confessed to sharing sensitive Army movement information and receiving money in return.

“On receiving a tip-off about some suspicious activity, the teams nabbed Noman Ilahi from Panipat,” said Panipat’s officiating SP Ganga Ram Punia. “The accused was supplying sensitive and important information regarding movement of the Indian Army and others to some people in Pakistan. He was spying for money, however, it would be too early to comment over it as the investigation into the matter is underway.”

Sources added that Ilahi’s sister lives in Panipat, who facilitated his stay in the city. He reportedly got the security guard job through an agency to appear inconspicuous.

The accused was produced in court on Wednesday and has been remanded to seven days of police custody. The investigation is ongoing.